He chose the overland route, suggesting stealth as the primary motivator. She cared not, following him into the forest of endless night, the light of its three moons replacing the irritating cheerfulness of the sunlight. Her expressions were hidden under that darkness, and perhaps her thoughts as well, as the hypnotic blanket of night wrapped around her, providing a sort of comfort.
It gave the indistinguishable days a sameness as well, one much like the other. Simple ennui provided her an odd sort of relief, her conversations with Hawk the only thing differentiating one minute from the next. They ate when they felt like it, slept when they felt like it, with no visual cues to tell them when.
Still, the nagging feeling of her helplessness bothered her. Hawk led the way, and she had no reason to argue, but somehow, it made her tighten up. They had some cause in common, but they were not on the same side, and as she lay awake while he slept, she wondered, and reasoned.
He seemed amiable enough, but aloof still, and there was an air of unease between the two. He was still the one leading, and it made her uncomfortable. She had to get in closer, get the upper hand somehow.
Lise looked over at Hawk, the man completely encased in a peaceful sleep she could not remember when she had last experienced. A Navarrese was the most unlikely traveling companion she could think of nowadays. She did not trust him, but one thought drove her. He could lead her to her revenge.
And that was all that mattered. She would do whatever it took.
The answer, when she thought of it, was so obvious. He was a man, wasn't he? There was one sure way to get his attention.
She contemplated him with a critical eye. Not bad looking, though perhaps a touch skinnier than the men of Rolante, who had been well-built blacksmiths, builders, and craftsmen. Despite all sense, staring at his body incited an odd sort of urge within her, one she recognized, but had never indulged.
Days drew on, and the simplicity of close, extended contact worked under her skin. She went from staring at him in cold calculation, to regarding him with a certain sort of detached interest, to finding her body unaccountably responding to him. She found herself watching every move he made with feelings other than suspicion, as something itched within her to touch him, to seduce him, to make him beg. It was a pleasurable thought.
It was a warm, balmy night when she finally made her decision. She tossed in her own blankets, and turned her head to see Hawk, peacefully encased in sleep. He slept without a shirt, and the top of finely defined muscles peeked out, their clean lines infinitely tempting.
She crept over to where he slept. His eyes opened narrowly; she hadn't expected he would have failed to sense her. Nevertheless, she acted as if she hadn't noticed. "Hawk," she whispered, leaning in close to barely brush his ear with the word. She leaned over him and bent her head to kiss him firmly on the lips, and his eyes snapped wide open.
He returned the kiss with fervor, his lips seeking hers greedily, but she pulled away to kiss down his neck, her hands unbuttoning his shirt to let her lips start traveling down his chest. The texture, the taste of his skin, inflamed her, as she worked her way slowly downward, marveling at the shapely hardness of his body, cautiously judging his response.
It worked like a charm. Hawk tensed and shivered at her every touch, until finally one arm wrapped around her, the other hand gripping a handful of her hair, yanking her back upwards to kiss her roughly. She gave in as he took control, he pulling her tightly to him, rolling her over to clamber on top of her, settling neatly within her legs. For long minutes, she let herself go, he writhing his body against hers, she moving in response to his need.
She knew what was coming; she had known as soon as she had made those steps over to his sleeping form. Nevertheless, she flinched involuntarily as his hand slipped under her skirt, fumbling with the closure and finally releasing it, tossing it nonchalantly off to the side. The same hand slithered upwards, grasping her breast as his tongue tickled her ear, moving down to undo the clasps of her vest with his teeth. Gently, he slid it off her shoulders and arms, then in one savage motion, yanked off her top.
She shivered suddenly, the night air touching her skin, as she lay under him in nothing but her underclothes. Her body was neatly wrapped around his as the two grappled together.
He guided her hand to his own trousers, and she took the hint, pulling them down to expose his maleness. She knew what was there, but seeing it so close gave her a start, for a moment almost changing her mind. Both resolve and desire took over, however, and no protest surfaced as he deftly relieved her of the rest of her garments, his moves obviously those of one who had done this many times before.
She hoped she had made the right decision; it was far too late to go back.
He caught her eye, and she found herself unable to resist his deep brown gaze. It left hers for a moment, traveling down her body and back again, followed by his hands. "Beautiful," he whispered, "every inch of you…" He pressed her down with kisses. She responded, but did not say a word, as he wriggled into position above her, she feeling for the first time the full weight of a man's naked body on her.
She could feel the telltale signs from his lower body, and knew what it meant. It was time. Startling herself, she shifted towards him in request, and he grinned before responding.
Lise yelped involuntarily as he entered her, more from surprise than pain, as she suddenly felt him, this man, inside her as well as on top of her. She shivered in surprise at the vulnerable feeling.
Hawk froze up in shock. "I'm sorry, Lise, I didn't know, you didn't tell me you hadn't done this before..."
Lise almost laughed. Of all her losses, this was the smallest. "It's fine," she told him in a low voice that she could only hoped he would interpret as sexy. It seemed to work, as before he could make a big deal out of it, she grasped him firmly with her arms and her legs, and he proceeded more slowly than before. After the initial shock, she began to find the sensation pleasant, like a caress from the inside, and slowly lost herself in the movements of their bodies.
He might be an enemy, but that didn't mean she couldn't enjoy it.